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DOOLEY ARTZ CLASS

EMAIL TO SET UP A TOUR BEFORE REGISTERING:

liverpoolartcenter@gmail.com

Dooley ArtZ is a weekly painting and drawing class for adults with special needs:

We offer plenty of instruction

Students choose the medium, style and they set the pace. We encourage individualism! Make it your own!

We highly encourage that support persons engage and create too! This is a great way to relax a little.

How can you join? Click the link above to email

What about payment?…Please include details around payment in your email application(self-pay, agency paid, private funded etc) or indicate inability to pay. We will contact you about details for applying for a scholarship. Tuition is sometimes covered by the Dooley ArtZ Fund in memory of Michael Dooley.

CURRENTLY THERE IS NO FUNDS IN THE DOOLEY ARTZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

  • The program includes weekly drawing and painting classes facilitated by a trained instructor.

  • The activities and environment are facilitated specifically for adults with special needs who have a strong interest in the arts. 

  • The program focuses on teaching the individuals and their support person(s) how to use art mediums as a communication and self-regulation tool.

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WHEN ARE THESE CLASSES:

WEDNESDAYS 1-3PM

A person with dreadlocks holding a bright yellow painting with multicolored swirl patterns in a room with artwork on the walls.

WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS DO DURING EACH CLASS?

  1. Weekly Class Project with Instruction

  2. Enjoy the studio music and lots of supplies!

  3. Learn a new skill using a variety of art media.

  4. Receive help and instruction in expressing ideas that come from the individual.

  5. Most classes offer plenty of time for more than one project: Step-by-step…or unique ideas inspired by students.

Young man with long hair and beard holding a notebook with a house, tree, and girl drawing, sitting in a room with bookshelves, chair, and a red bag.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Provide a creative program for adults and their advocates for self-care.

  2. Learn painting and drawing skills and create a project in a single class.

  3. Connect with others through the creative process.

  4. Individuals foster a sense of belonging by attending weekly/regularly.

  5. Offer a space for individuals and their support person(s) to enjoy creativity.

A man in a pink t-shirt and a blue Under Armour cap painting with pink paint on a canvas, smiling at the camera.

REQUIREMENTS: SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS

  1. Communication about any special needs prior to registering. This helps our teachers a lot!

  2. Schedule a visit with the teachers prior to first class. This is required before attending.

  3. Express an interest in creating art.

Various open paint buckets with wet paint in multiple colors on a outdoor table, with a person's hand holding a paintbrush dipped in dark brown paint.
Close-up of a small butterfly resting on a green dew-covered grass blade in a natural outdoor setting.

About Your Instructor

Older woman sitting outdoors on grass, smiling, with watercolor paints and palette in front of her, surrounded by greenery and flowers.

Pam Mead

We are incredibly honored to have Pam Mead as a lead instructor at the Liverpool Art Center (LAC). Pam is a phenomenal individual whose life is an inspiring blend of deep compassion, lifelong education, and artistic excellence.

Leading the Dooley ArtZ Program

Pam is the devoted lead instructor for our special Dooley ArtZ program, a weekly class dedicated to providing a safe space for creative expression for adults with special needs. In alignment with the LAC mission, this class extends its welcoming environment not only to the students but also to their support persons. This commitment to inclusive art-making is part of our larger goal to combat caregiver burnout and provide a much-needed outlet for self-care and artistic exploration for all.

A Wealth of Experience

Pam’s background perfectly equips her for this role. She is not only an incredibly skilled artist and craftswoman but also brings valuable teaching experience from her previous careers:

  • Special Education Teacher: Her experience in special education ensures a patient, adaptive, and supportive environment for every student.

  • Retired Science Teacher: Her science background infuses her work with a detail-oriented approach and a passion for the natural world.

Art, Nature, and Perpetual Growth

Pam's personal art reflects her life's passions. Her work, spanning stamping, collaging, scrapbooking, jewelry, and fiber arts, often speaks to her profound love of nature and animals. Whether she is tending to wildlife through her non-profit Critters Crossing or leading a student through a new painting technique, Pam embodies a perpetual desire to keep learning, growing, and serving in every way.

We are truly blessed that this tireless individual and talented craftswoman has chosen LAC as a place to share her light and expertise.